Last visit was: 30 Apr 2026, 08:35 It is currently 30 Apr 2026, 08:35
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 30 Apr 2026
Posts: 110,009
Own Kudos:
812,111
 [4]
Given Kudos: 105,961
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 110,009
Kudos: 812,111
 [4]
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 17 Oct 2018, 02:51
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

81% (01:22) correct 19% (01:20) wrong based on 216 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Roberto x years ago?

A. x
B. 4x + 2y
C. 5x + 2y
D. 6x + 2y
E. 6x + y
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Gladiator59
User avatar
Joined: 16 Sep 2016
Last visit: 18 Mar 2026
Posts: 840
Own Kudos:
2,719
 [5]
Given Kudos: 271
Status:It always seems impossible until it's done.
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
GMAT 2: 770 Q51 V42
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 2: 770 Q51 V42
Posts: 840
Kudos: 2,719
 [5]
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 17 Oct 2018, 03:19
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Roberto x years ago?

A. x
B. 4x + 2y
C. 5x + 2y
D. 6x + 2y
E. 6x + y
Show more

2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old, so today he will be (3x+y) + 2x+y = 5x + 2y years old.

So, x years ago from today, Roberto was (5x+2y) - x = 4x + 2y years old.

Hence Option (B) is our choice.

Best,
GLadi
General Discussion
User avatar
Salsanousi
User avatar
Joined: 19 Oct 2013
Last visit: 29 Dec 2020
Posts: 391
Own Kudos:
358
 [1]
Given Kudos: 117
Location: Kuwait
GPA: 3.2
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Posts: 391
Kudos: 358
 [1]
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 17 Oct 2018, 03:58
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The solution can be best demonstrated in a table.

If he was 3x+y years old, 2x+y years ago.

The now he will be \(3x + y + 2x + y = 5x + 2y\)

X years ago is basically 5x + 2y - x = 4x + 2y

Answer choice B
Attachments

Screen Shot 2018-10-17 at 1.55.39 PM.png
Screen Shot 2018-10-17 at 1.55.39 PM.png [ 27.87 KiB | Viewed 12397 times ]

User avatar
nkin
User avatar
Joined: 09 Jun 2018
Last visit: 25 Jan 2022
Posts: 170
Own Kudos:
546
 [1]
Given Kudos: 86
Location: United States
Schools: Booth '22 (WA) Ross '22 (WL) Tuck '22 (WL) Duke '22 (WL) Darden '22 (A$) Kellogg '22 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
GPA: 4
WE:Operations (Manufacturing)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Booth '22 (WA) Ross '22 (WL) Tuck '22 (WL) Duke '22 (WL) Darden '22 (A$) Kellogg '22 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
Posts: 170
Kudos: 546
 [1]
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 17 Oct 2018, 06:11
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Now, Roberto is (3x+y) + (2x + y) = 5x + 2y years old
x years ago, he was 5x+2y - x = 4x + 2y years old.

Hence Option B.

Now, another way is to plug in numbers, say x = 1, y = 1.

So, 2*1 + 1 = 3 years ago Roberto was 3*1 + 1 = 4 years old. So, now, Roberto is 4+3 = 7 years old, x = 1 year ago, he was 6 years old. Check options now.
A: 1, Incorrect
B: 6, Correct
C: 7, Incorrect
D: 8, Incorrect
E: 7, Incorrect

Hence Option B again!
User avatar
Bismarck
User avatar
Joined: 18 Jun 2018
Last visit: 15 Mar 2023
Posts: 217
Own Kudos:
482
 [1]
Given Kudos: 35
Posts: 217
Kudos: 482
 [1]
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 17 Oct 2018, 06:22
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Roberto x years ago?

A. x
B. 4x + 2y
C. 5x + 2y
D. 6x + 2y
E. 6x + y
Show more

OA: B

Let current age be \(z\)

According to Question,
\(z-(2x+y)=3x+y\)
\(z=5x+2y\).........(1)

Age of Roberto \(x\) years ago\(= z-x=5x+2y-x=4x+2y\)
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,483
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,483
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Updated on: 28 Jan 2021, 07:05
Originally posted by BrentGMATPrepNow on 17 Oct 2018, 06:25.
Last edited by BrentGMATPrepNow on 28 Jan 2021, 07:05, edited 1 time in total.
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Roberto x years ago?

A. x
B. 4x + 2y
C. 5x + 2y
D. 6x + 2y
E. 6x + y
Show more

Let R = Roberto's PRESENT age.
So, R - x = Roberto's age X YEARS AGO (this is our goal!)
Also, R - (2x + y) = Roberto's age (2x + y) YEARS AGO

2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old.
We can write: R - (2x + y) = 3x + y
Remove brackets: R - 2x - y = 3x + y
Add y to both sides to get: R - 2x = 3x + 2y
Add x to both sides to get: R - x = 4x + 2y

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent
User avatar
KSBGC
User avatar
Joined: 31 Oct 2013
Last visit: 10 Mar 2022
Posts: 1,240
Own Kudos:
1,510
Given Kudos: 635
Concentration: Accounting, Finance
GPA: 3.68
WE:Analyst (Accounting)
Posts: 1,240
Kudos: 1,510
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 17 Oct 2018, 13:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Roberto x years ago?

A. x
B. 4x + 2y
C. 5x + 2y
D. 6x + 2y
E. 6x + y
Show more


After 2x + y :

3x + y + 2x + y = 5x + 2y.

Before x years ago;

5x + 2y - x = 4x + 2y .

The best answer is B.
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 30 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,300
Own Kudos:
26,557
Given Kudos: 302
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 22,300
Kudos: 26,557
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 18 Oct 2018, 18:18
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Roberto x years ago?

A. x
B. 4x + 2y
C. 5x + 2y
D. 6x + 2y
E. 6x + y
Show more

We can let r = Roberto’s age today and create the equation:

r - (2x + y) = 3x + y

r - 2x - y = 3x + y

r = 5x + 2y

We see that Roberto is currently (5x + 2y) years old. So x years ago, he was 5x + 2y - x = 4x + 2y years old.

Answer: B
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,483
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,483
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 09 Sep 2020, 07:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Roberto x years ago?

A. x
B. 4x + 2y
C. 5x + 2y
D. 6x + 2y
E. 6x + y
Show more
Let R = Roberto's PRESENT age.
So, R - x = Roberto's age X YEARS AGO (this is our goal!)
Also, R - (2x + y) = Roberto's age (2x + y) YEARS AGO

2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old.
We can write: R - (2x + y) = 3x + y
Remove brackets: R - 2x - y = 3x + y
Add y to both sides to get: R - 2x = 3x + 2y
Add x to both sides to get: R - x = 4x + 2y

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent
User avatar
Rogermoris
User avatar
Joined: 13 Aug 2020
Last visit: 24 Sep 2020
Posts: 25
Own Kudos:
50
 [1]
Given Kudos: 12
Posts: 25
Kudos: 50
 [1]
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 09 Sep 2020, 07:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
\(2x + y\) years ago Roberto was \(3x + y\) years old

Say, 4 years ago, you were 20 years ago, which simply means today you are 24 years old (4+20)

Hence, Today he will be \((3x+y) + 2x+y = 5x + 2y\) years old.

So, x years ago from today, Roberto was \((5x+2y) - x = 4x + 2y\) years old.

Which is Option [B]
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 30 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,300
Own Kudos:
26,557
 [1]
Given Kudos: 302
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 22,300
Kudos: 26,557
 [1]
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 17 Jan 2021, 12:25
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was Roberto x years ago?

A. x
B. 4x + 2y
C. 5x + 2y
D. 6x + 2y
E. 6x + y
Show more
Solution:

We can let r = Roberto’s age today and create the equation:

r - (2x + y) = 3x + y

r - 2x - y = 3x + y

r = 5x + 2y

We see that Roberto is currently (5x + 2y) years old. So x years ago, he was 5x + 2y - x = 4x + 2y years old.

Answer: B
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 39,003
Own Kudos:
1,122
Posts: 39,003
Kudos: 1,122
2x + y years ago, Roberto was 3x + y years old. How many years old was 11 Dec 2024, 13:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
110009 posts
Krunaal
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts